Children can have
high blood pressure. With the recent rise in childhood obesity, more children
than ever are at risk. This could result in a rise in heart disease as these
children get older. Dr. Edward Hill tells us more about this in todayís 60
Second Housecall.

The rate of premature
heart disease among obese teens is set to triple, and the increasing prevalence
of high blood pressure in children is a big reason for the expected rise.

The presence of
child obesity results in higher rates of high blood pressure, which is a major
risk factor for stroke and heart attack. It puts children at risk for premature
cardiac events earlier in life.

Seventeen percent
of children are obese and 20 percent are overweight, which means that about 12
million children under age 18 are overweight or obese.

It is estimated
that 4 percent of children have high blood pressure and another 4 percent have
pre-hypertension, meaning that they are at risk of developing high blood
pressure in the future. Pediatricians typically begin to measure blood pressure
when a child turns 3 as part of a standard well visit.

Treating children
with high blood pressure or pre-hypertension starts with lifestyle changes. This
means trying to modify diet, increase physical activity and controlling their
weight.